Chests and Cabinets - Fine Woodworking

124 WALL CABINETS

the panel to the center of both rails. Add a

few drops of glue to the mortises, then slide

the stiles into place on the rails and panel.

Once the door is together, pegging the

joints will strengthen the assembly and help

frame the cabinet visually. For contrast, I

used^1 ⁄ 4 -in. walnut dowel pins. To add the

pegs, simply drill a^1 ⁄^4 -in.-dia. hole just shy

of the door thickness, then tap a length of

dowel into the hole. The excess can be sawn

off and then chiseled flush to the front of

the door.

After assembling the door, test the fit

against the case. If the assembly went to-

Shadow lines make

a simple door interesting

To build the door, the frame is grooved first

at the tablesaw and then the joinery is cut on

the tablesaw using a tenoning jig. The jig can

be either aftermarket or shopmade. I cut the

open mortises on the stiles first, then cut the

rail tenons to fit.

When the joinery has been cut, plane

down the front face of the rails an extra^1 ⁄^8 in.

so that they will be slightly inset on the stiles.

The simple flat panel for the door is cut

from^1 ⁄ 2 -in.-thick stock, then rabbeted to fit

into the frame. Start by gluing the center of

Add the shelves. After the case is glued and

clamped, the shelves are slid into the grooves.

For easier assembly, the author applies glue to

the back half of the grooves and the front half of

the dovetails.

Quick door frames on the tablesaw. With

each stile and rail connected by a unique version

of the mortise-and-tenon called a bridle joint,

the door frame enjoys plenty of strength and

good looks. To start, cut the tenon shoulders

on the rails. After grooving the frame members

and mortising the stiles, use the tablesaw to

establish the tenon length on each rail.